“Virtual production validity (V.P.V.) an application in the production process of pressure containers for motor vehicles”.

The work offers a comprehensive idea of the results obtained by the most recent research activities carried out at the Cattedra di Impianti Industriali for testing the efficacy of innovative methodologies in the planning of production processes. In this framework, the approach known as CAPE (Computer Aided Production Engineering) was used to analyse the technical aspects of the production of pressure containers for motor vehicles. Starting from the increasing trend in the use of alternative fuels (propane liquid gas GPL and compressed natural gas GNC) the authors considered those aspects, which have a high impact on the choices of the major car producers and were able to point out some concrete investment opportunities. Given the results obtained in the specific application field, it is also worth to mention that the goal of the study is to offer a methodological contribution to the solution of problems implied in the production planning and the optimisation of the resources employed in production cycles, by means of Virtual Production Validity (V.P.V.).